WASHINGTON, Mar 21 (TNS): Supporting the peace overtures of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, the United States has said that the onus was now on the Taliban whether or not they were ready to talk to the elected government for a durable peace in the war-torn country, a spokesperson for the State Department said.
Earlier, Afghan Ghani had said that the president office was open to peace talks with the Taliban.
“The onus is now on the Taliban to demonstrate that they are ready to discuss peace with the elected government of Afghanistan,” the spokesperson told the media on Wednesday.
The spokesperson was responding to a question about a Taliban statement in which it welcomed and supported all genuine efforts for resolving the ongoing crisis in this war-torn country.
“We support all efforts that lead to ending the ongoing crisis in this country,” Taliban spokesman ZabihullahMujahid said in a statement.
Ghani has offered the Taliban an honourable path to peace, the spokesperson said.
“His offer underscored that peace is not only possible, but is a national and a religious responsibility,” the spokesperson said.
